What to See in Turkey: Cities to Explore on Foot

The best things to do in Turkey range from exploring ancient cities and Ottoman monuments to discovering a country shaped by coastlines, mountains and the meeting of Europe and Asia. Turkey is home to an exceptionally long cultural history, with traces of Anatolian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman civilisations across the country. Neywo offers free audio guides for 17 cities in Turkey, covering 1,053 narrated places in total.

What to see and do in Turkey

Turkey stretches across Anatolia in West Asia and East Thrace in Southeast Europe. The Turkish straits and the Sea of Marmara separate its Asian and European parts, while the Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean frame much of the country. That geography creates striking contrasts: coastal plains, a high central plateau and mountain ranges rising towards the east.

Its history is just as varied. Modern humans lived in this region during the Late Paleolithic period, while Göbekli Tepe is close to 12,000 years old. Parts of Anatolia lie within the Fertile Crescent, one of the regions associated with the origins of agriculture. Ancient Anatolian peoples, Greek influence, Roman and Byzantine rule, the Seljuks and the Ottoman Empire all left their mark on the land.

İstanbul: monuments between two continents

İstanbul is one of the most important places to visit in Turkey for anyone interested in the country’s layered history. Its narrated places include Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, the Grand Bazaar and Galata Tower. Together, they reveal the city’s connections with Byzantine Constantinople, the Ottoman Empire and its long commercial life.

Ankara and the civilizations of Anatolia

Turkey’s capital, Ankara, offers a different perspective from İstanbul. The city’s Neywo guide includes 209 narrated places, among them Kocatepe Mosque, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Gordion and Estergon Castle. The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is especially connected to the country’s ancient past, while Gordion reflects the depth of Anatolian history.

The Aegean heritage around Izmir and Ephesus

The Aegean region brings together ancient Greek, Roman and Christian history. Izmir has 288 narrated places, including the House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus, Pergamon and St. John’s Cathedral.

Nearby, Ephesus is one of the country’s major ancient sites. Its narrated places include the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Ephesian Artemis, İsa Bey Mosque and the Ephesus Archaeological Museum. The site is also closely connected with Selçuk, where visitors can continue exploring the area’s religious and archaeological heritage.

Antalya and the ancient Mediterranean coast

For travellers searching for Antalya, Turkey offers both a Mediterranean setting and access to important ancient sites. Antalya has 18 narrated places, including Aspendos, Perge, Kesik Minare and the Xanthos Theater.

Aspendos and Perge show the importance of ancient cities along the southern coast. The Kesik Minare reflects another layer of Antalya’s history, while the Xanthos Theater connects the region with the ancient Lycian world.

Bodrum and the remains of Halicarnassus

Bodrum combines a coastal setting with the history of ancient Halicarnassus. Its 13 narrated places include Bodrum Castle, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Saint Nicholas Church and the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

The city’s attractions span ancient history, medieval architecture and maritime archaeology, making it one of the best cities to visit in Turkey for a compact introduction to several periods.

Pamukkale and Hierapolis

The Pamukkale area brings natural and archaeological interest together. Pamukkale has 11 narrated places, including Laodicea on the Lycus, Hierapolis, the Theatre of Hierapolis and Akköy Yukarı Camii (eski).

Hierapolis and its theatre represent the ancient history of the site, while Laodicea on the Lycus adds another important archaeological destination nearby.

Çanakkale, Troy and the Dardanelles

Çanakkale is a useful base for exploring the history of the Dardanelles and the ancient world. Its 20 narrated places include Troy, the Troy Museum, Abydos and Nusret.

Troy is central to the region’s cultural importance, while the Troy Museum provides another way to engage with the archaeological heritage. Abydos and Nusret broaden the story beyond antiquity.

Bursa and Iznik

Bursa has 182 narrated places, including Bursa Grand Mosque and Bursa Green Mosque. Its guide also reaches Iznik and the First Council of Nicaea, linking the city with major religious and architectural history.

Iznik has 14 narrated places of its own, including the First Council of Nicaea, Yeşil Mosque Iznik, İznik Museum and Hagia Sophia, Iznik. The city is an important destination for understanding the region’s Byzantine and Ottoman layers.

Cappadocia and Turkey’s regional contrasts

Cappadocia is among the country’s best-known destinations, set within the varied landscapes of central Anatolia. Although Neywo currently lists no narrated places there, it represents the kind of regional contrast that defines Turkey: the country moves from Mediterranean and Aegean coasts to a high inland plateau and mountain landscapes.

Mardin and the cultures of southeastern Anatolia

Mardin has 21 narrated places, including Mor Hananyo Monastery, Mardin Museum, the Great Mosque of Mardin and Kırklar Church. These sites reflect the many religious and cultural traditions that have shaped southeastern Anatolia.

Trabzon and the Black Sea region

On the northern coast, Trabzon has 69 narrated places. The list includes Sümela Monastery, Erdoğdu Bey Cami, Kuştul Monastery and Vazelon Monastery.

The region’s historic monasteries and mosques show how different religious and political traditions developed around the Black Sea.

Turkey’s landscapes and cultural life

Turkey contains 14 distinct climate zones. Summers are hot and dry along the western and southern coasts, while the northern coast receives rain throughout the year. Inland areas have more severe winters, sharper temperature changes and lower rainfall.

This variety supports ecosystems ranging from Mediterranean plant life and temperate deciduous forest to Alpine tundra and Anatolian steppe. Turkey includes three global biodiversity hotspots: the Mediterranean, Irano-Anatolian and Caucasus regions.

Culture brings together Anatolia’s native peoples, Central Asian Turkic traditions, Islam and long connections with Europe. The Seljuk and Ottoman periods produced important literature and poetry, while older Turkic stories continued through oral traditions. The Tales of Dede Korkut are one example of this storytelling heritage. Architecture, music, cinema, television and other modern media continue that long cultural conversation.

Explore Turkey with Neywo’s free audio guide

Download Neywo to explore Turkey independently with free audio guides for 17 cities, 33 walking tours and 1,053 narrated places in total. Narration is available in 11 languages.

Each story plays as you reach the place, at your own pace: no group and no schedule. Instead of following a fixed tour, you can walk through Turkey’s cities and let the app tell the story of each monument, museum or historic site when you arrive.